Listen America; Betty Smith

The University of North Carolina presents listen America directed by John Clayton and produced by Johnny Lee for the University of North Carolina communications center Erwin director to do this series we went to 13 of the top authors of this country and I asked them if there was something they would like to say at this time to the radio audiences of America. We told them that of course there would be no censorship from the University of North Carolina that they could select anything that could be a big one or every day as they chose and they could write it up as they wanted to a play a dialogue a talk. One of these writers was Betty Smith. Miss Smith agreed to do this and sent us a script dealing with the power of a common man who rose uncommonly to lead the people in a day of crisis to introduce our program. Here is Betty Smith. In writing this radio play about Abraham Lincoln it was in my thoughts that each of us is a product of what he has experienced. Sometimes in our present day world we seem to be striving for a perfect environment which is to say

that an environment without pain or harsh challenges. Well this is very good. But in writing my first novel The Tree Grows in Brooklyn I came to see that out of a hard world kind people could come and that when they did often they were only stronger because of what they had overcome. Now Abraham Lincoln was I think but truly great strong man with no pride of family with no advantages of education without wealth without more than the minimum of love and affection. Without access to the things we take for granted like libraries books or teachers he became a man of deep feeling sound conviction and true wisdom to the young people in the underprivileged areas of our wealthy country I can hold out no better example than Lincoln. And I say to them that is not just our experiences which make us what we are but also it is our

response to these things and what we learn from these things and how much good we are able to see in all the gloom around us. How good of the group as it grows higher of the berry birds they occur on the prairie I began. So prairie me me your big ME ME ME. Or you or me or you.

He grew up in Indiana. He wasn't much different from other boys like to go swimming and fishing. And he was always hungry. He teased his sister his father often clouted him for being fresh and for ducking the chores. Yes he was like any other boy. Well maybe a little taller for his age and a little homelier than he needed to be. No one thought he would ever amount to much. His name was Abraham Lincoln. He loved his mother and his mother died eight times. Paul was getting home with his new wife. I think she'll be a good mother to us. She won't be my mother Sarah and Pa brings her here I'm going to run away. You're just sayin that a like the time you shot a wild bird and then said you wouldn't hunt no more. I meant I'll never kill another saying things so wild and free.

I got a right to be living. Lucky paw I had no such ideas when it started. Hope you ain't got nothing against Chopan can learn woodbox is empty food after a bit. You do hate work Don J. Told me to work but he never taught me to like it. Oh I please. All right all right I'll get your will and so you look where the rod is a mile that way. I do believe it's possible he's bringing her home. I'm running away with your food when you know it. Goodbye I say no don't run away I hate come back. Come back again. They're going to show you

my land my cabins over there about half a mile further on is a nice cabin. Someday I'm going to put windows and Ms Johnson Ms Johnson Ms Johnson don't have gone I can't get used to thinking you're Mrs. Lincoln now. Well how do you like Indiana. I must say it's money playing in these parts list same as the Indians. We take an interest in politics and religion. Now now that clear and just ahead is where I buried Nancy helped me off the wagon Tommy. I want to see your grades right. Can't deny you nothing the first day you married there carved out that wooden marker myself. Nancy Hanks wife of Tom Lincoln von 1784 dad 1818 dad most too you know.

The grave looks pretty bare but I never was much of a hand appeared in things up. No Tommy. No word over there. All saw something in that bird do you most likely. They passed this way going down to the stream. No it didn't look like. I'll go see it come out of there. Oh it's just a hungry look in BOA. What are you doing out here and running away. You didn't get very far. I stopped to say good bye to my mother. This here is your new mother. I fetched her from Kentucky. Say howdy. Howdy howdy what how did Miss Johnson who you call her mother I'll tan your hide good oh let the boy be Tommy. I reckon he's due for a good licking as long as I live with you they'll be no children that our house he's going to cause trouble. I reckon I got to bind him out. There's a farmer I know over in Ohio looking for

a bound boy. No no I'm going to be no bound boy. See that you do like I tell you to tell me that's me them books and that little tree from under the wagon seat. All right. C'mere I hear you do right out of school. I don't go no more. But you do want book learnin don't you boy. Yes and more than anything in the world I'll see that you go to school then you'll come home with us. Here's the books and the tree knights to come and oh Miss Johnson you're right on the head Tommy I want to have a word with the boy. Well when I don't take too long a supper will be a way to get it. I come here to take your mother's place. My mother is dead but I ain't going to do

for you just like she would. You ain't her knew your mother when she was a gal she would run from me to look after her children. And they she would want for you not to hate me. Well Miss Johnson I reckon it was nice of you to speak up for me to my father. Thank you. I heard you was a ridin boy so I brought you some books from Kentucky. I don't want to. What's your name you saw fables and the history of the United States. I never owned a book. You own these then. Here take a look. Please take a maybe I'll take them. But I got to pay you to pay me by not running away. Not until you're bigger anyway. I do thank you for the books Ms Johnson Ms Johnson. Well I guess I'm never Munn boring. Someday you might look on me as your mother. I hope that

it's coming on dark Ms Johnson. Paul be power mad if you don't get on home. Yes but before I go I'd like to plant this little tree here. Just a wild crab apple but the blooms are mighty pretty in the spring. It'll be company for her. I always think of her here alone when it rains. She always like flowers. Happy Miss JOHNSON. No I judge this is where Hardy is planted here. The stick will punch a hole there. And I will be so lonesome life I reckon I must be getting on to the cabin now it's getting dark. Ms Johnson. I want to say something. I am what troubles my son nothing and only wait for me I reckon. I walk on home along with you.

Mother. Began. So you're seven years past the freshness of spring. The drowsiness of summer the somberness of autumn and the still of winter. Abe grew up into a toad homely man. His sister Sarah married. He missed her. And in time Abe learned to love his step mother. She often stood between the boy and his father. Tommy Tommy Were you asleep. Yes I want to talk. Don't

you do enough talking all day. Do you think Sara is happy with their gives him enough to eat don't he. She always looks like she's going to cry. But don't go looking for trouble. I don't want her back on my hands. Well I'm worried. They married a year yet. Just something like that. Miss JOHNSON. I want my sleep I've got work to do tomorrow what work where something might turn up. You never can tell. Right here. The White House. Just a bump in the loft argue with what the fella says in the book. He let loose of that book and go to bed. I want my sleep. It's nearly nine o'clock. The favorite is it but want to know who is the most right to complain. You know the negro tell him I have a get me my sleep. Go to bed a

bit. You work so hard today. I didn't know I was going to be quiet you know. Tomorrow night I sleep out with the horse. So I'm coming. Mother let me stay here with your sister. Oh Mother course you can stay here. I can't stay with there no more. You married him and you're going to stay with it. No she never did like Karen Grigsby know how he and his folks look down on her. You take her back to where my pa just reckon I want you to like I say to your grow grow no more nice in a sideways Santa can't stay in my house. Where's my wife.

They are. So I ain't going back with you. That's mighty big talk and it's a mighty big fella. The law says a man's wife got to do like he say he can about no law she's a free creature and no one's got the right to hold her. Now your own you ought to be kinder just so used to ways too after the baby is born. Well what's come over you used to be right fond of her. Well Miss Lincoln she never did tell me about her folks. I found out after we were married heard some fellows talking about her mother. What did they say about it. Don't tell him Aaron. Don't tell him. I'll go back with you. I won't complain no more. Only don't tell him I don't want to know and begged me. What are you holding over my sister's head. You want plain talk about plainer the better. There's a play name for your mother speak it. It's no secret your mother Nancy Hanks had no father that you know it on least the way she never carried his name. I'm sorry you said that Aaron. Now I keep away from you boys don't you know me.

Oh I didn't want to tell you. I didn't you know I broke my jaw boy. Sarah you didn't cause enough roughness coming round here with your family troubles. Now you help your man up off in the foreign and go hole. I reckon you're right. I shouldn't run away Aaron. Punish me by telling you about mother. I'll go back with you. I can't let you go back to him saying No way. You're a good brother. You want me made said knowing these things ready to go back with us. Come on. You and a good father Macon Sara go back to him and never speak against my mother. He said nothing that wasn't true. No sense getting so riled up about it. You ought to be ashamed of yourself you know. Granted I can get no peace in my own home. I'm going to sleep out in the bar who has the most right to complain.

That's the story you see Hanks your grandmother loved this man from Virginia when she was a real young girl never did marry or when your mother was born. Folks saw to it that she was punished. The court records man. He came from Virginia. Yes he was an aristocrat. You got your reading ways from him. Virginia Mr. Pratt and he owned slaves. Your mother was gentle and good she had some beauty in her soul that was missing from other folk. And mind how there was there was something sacred like about Nancy hangs that made her quiet and understand her son was that way too. But folks will always be calling my mother that name. Don't be grieving some time passes people forget I won't

forget sha boy it's a mighty pretty world when you love a sweet girl some day and be happy as all get out. Mark for happiness. But you're young yet you'll do many fine things before you die. Someday Someday I make people remember my name and speak well and that I know you will cut timber split rails and plow land for many a year to come but all the while I'll be getting ready for something for something. We meet. A lot of his dead mother and through her he was marked for sorrow. Is sister Sarah died the next month in

childbirth. And he grieved. Another year passed. Started reading law books one sunny day he walked fourteen miles to hear a great lawyer try a murder case and the scream was a man is considered to be an innocent until proven guilty. In conclusion let me quote from that sacred document which our fathers formulated and by which we Americans live. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these being the right to life liberty and pursuit of. Mr. Breckenridge Mr. Breckenridge. Oh yes.

I just heard your arguments to the jury and I want to say if I could make as good a speech as that my soul would be satisfied. Thank you thank you. I hope you will entertain the same pleasant sentiments toward me at the polls next election. I can't vote yet. I'm only 19. I want to oh well I have to hurry. Jury coming in and I will be of age when you're up for re-election. Yes. So you like my speech Mr. Lincoln Abe Lincoln. Oh yes Newsome Lincoln's over North Carolina way. Well our folks came from Kentucky. My mother's people the hanks they settled there. And Hanks seems like I came across that name once sought on some court records don't say it but I don't say it happened 30 40 years back as I recollect this woman. What's wrong boy you look as though I were hurting you. This is a rough and tough country. If you want to survive in it you must learn to be the same. Maybe so. But I feel things.

Lord I wouldn't come by than you in the night. Last night was something special. Today I heard a great lawyer defend a poor. Friendless boy. I thought that was a mighty fine thing so I done made up my mind to be a lawyer like Mr. Breckenridge. But there's something else on my mind. He he started to talk against my mother's folks. He just couldn't know that he was hurting me. And that brings me round to the special thing I want to take up with you. No matter what place in life I I meant to fill. I hope you will keep me plane so that

I always understand how plain folks feel. Lord I ask that I may never be called upon to hurt any man by word bank deed that may be remembered pain. And so we started to study law in earnest another spring came. He was hired to float a cargo down the Mississippi on a raft. He traded at New Orleans and he saw many strange things there. Things that annoyed at it and the years went by until a game of age. It was a wild February night a night of wind and rain together. The spring visitor came to the cabin. Come to spend the night. God bless your welcome stranger. You

poor soul walking around barefoot in the rain. How close to the front. Thank you ma'am my name is Jonathan Chapman but folks call me Johnny. Welcome Johnny Appleseed. I'm Tom Lincoln I come to talk to Abraham again. Oh you mean our boy. He'll be home soon. Abraham Abraham just following in the footsteps of the master and they were crucified him too. Josh not I do believe this man is touched me. They're making a cross for him already. Oh no way. They are working on it. The wind is high on the tree. That's what you're here in Johnny shucks yes my fella travelling around like you were in a coffee sack or a shirt is bound to get strange notions you know. That's what you've been hearing Johnny. Just walking across the clearing a prophet is not without honor to see you going to his old home. Johnny got a message our new stories a swap with you about the time I floated down the

Mississippi on a raft. What did you see floating down that great river. I seen the boulder flat Bookman that the half horse half alligator of men had killed. What do you see when you got to New Orleans. I seen foreign boats and Creole gals that had a husky way of talking and I heard sailor men sing queerer rolling song as it went by the name o shanty. You haven't told me what your soul. I see the black man. Bartered and traded like barnyard stock. I seen him in chains headed for the cotton field. I heard there said sardines and seen their eyes all dark with even little eyes. Yes I seen them and. I seen those things. You were forget the dead men in the boat. You'll never remember the shanties that the sailor men say. The dark

eyed girls will pass as a dream passes. But they chained me sad when the both men and the sold man. You will never forget. For three days it rained and the wind howled then the sky is clear for some time. Tom Lincoln had been planning to leave Indiana and take his family to Illinois where there was a promise of better farming land. He decided on a day it was not long after Johnny's visit he was sorry to leave Indiana. Mighty sorry mother. I feel safe here in the wilderness but something's waiting for me out in the world. It's starting to get very for me in Illinois. Johnny Appleseed sort of got you to see in visions when I die bring me back to Indiana.

Bury me near my mother and sister you'll be a well-known man when you die. Postmaster of some big town. Maybe something even better. Townsfolk will have the Berry in for you then and I know where I go. My heart will always stay in Indiana. I know I went out into the timber clearing to say goodbye to my mother's grave. I took a cutting from the crab apple tree to take him to Illinois. Where were my final home be won't matter will be in America. Yeah I reckon we're already the foxes outside the wagons are loaded up and we're raring to go. Now they speak a word of prayer before we set out to hear the Lord. We are going forth to seek new ways of living. Give us the fertile lands that we seek in Illinois send the rain and the sun so that our crops may prosper.

Keep it in peace so when we seek something and we shall go forth again and again and our children's children until we find what we see. We are young people. We are restless people. We are the American people. We pick up your things Miss JOHNSON. I'm coming to it. Don't forget your next savior. You know. Yeah. Oh yeah baby. Yeah I know it's just ahead. Yes mother I know. I'm coming. And he blinked and went out of Indiana into Illinois where his destiny was waiting for him. The seed grows out

of the prairie to the birds and to the prairie to be prairie baby your. Feet for a peep or three for you or me for you. And me. For the past half hour you've been listening to a program written by Betty Smith. The series is listen America directed by John Clayton and produced by Johnny Lee for the University of North Carolina communication center. Earl when director this

series is produced on a grant in aid from the National Association of educational broadcasters made possible by the Educational Television and Radio Center on each program of the current series one of the best of our American writers will present his views on a theme of his choice either dramatized or more directly as he chooses in Miss Smith's program the part of Lincoln was played by Phil Johnston others in the cast for Elizabeth Dixon Bob Thomas Dolores to Parma out to Gordon and Blaine back then Master narrated original music was composed and presented by John Parker Jr.. Our actors are students professors and townspeople of the university community. And listen America is recorded in the studios of the department of radio television and motion pictures on the campus at Chapel Hill. This is b n a a b Radio Network.